Psychiatric Tests Ordered For Orlando Man Who Threatened Reagan

July 29, 1986|By United Press International

AUGUSTA, GA. — A Navy machinist's mate from Orlando who allegedly has said President Reagan is the anti-Christ and must be killed appeared in court Monday and was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

Richard E. Marriner, 29, appeared before U.S. Magistrate John Dunsmore, who ordered him to undergo testing at the federal prison in Springfield, Mo.

''President Reagan has to be killed, but I can't do it because I am under guard,'' Marriner said in an affidavit presented at the court hearing.

''They already know what I want to do,'' he said. ''See Revelations. Shoot the president. The president is the anti-Christ who has to be killed with a double-edged sword.''

Assistant U.S. Attorney Edmund Booth said Marriner would be transferred to the prison, which has the largest mental hospital in the federal penal system, as soon as possible.

''We don't know when he will be taken from the Richmond County Jail,'' said Booth. ''We are presently making arrangements for the transfer.''

He said if Marriner is found competent, he will be returned to Augusta to stand trial.

Marriner was arrested Friday for threatening to kill Reagan but has not officially been charged with a crime.

Marriner, a Navy machinist's mate second class, was arrested by the Secret Service at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Augusta, where he had been treated for depression since July 21, when he was transferred from the Gorgas Army Hospital in Panama.

''Agent Edward E. Sanderfer in Augusta reviewed Marriner's medical records from Gorgas and interviewed Marriner July 25,'' Booth said. ''Marriner acknowledged and admitted making death threats against the president while at the hospital.''

Sanderfer submitted an affidavit containing the alleged death threats to the U.S. District Court in Augusta late Friday afternoon.

The Secret Service agent said Marriner gave no details about who should carry out the assassination, but verified other statements Marriner allegedly made at the Panama hospital July 6.

Sanderfer said on July 19 Marriner again said Reagan should be killed because he is an ''evil force.''

An oral authorization was issued to arrest Marriner, but an official arrest warrant was not issued until Monday.